Funding boost to save threatened freshwater species
3 May 2024
The Albanese Labor Government is investing more than $1.2 million to save threatened fish, the Stocky galaxias and Swan galaxias, and the Glenelg Freshwater Mussel.
The new funding has been announced as part of the Government’s $500 million investment to protect and recover threatened species, tackle invasive species, and safeguard Australia’s natural treasures.
The Stocky galaxias (found in NSW) and the Swan galaxias (found in Tasmania) are threatened by invasive trout and poor water quality caused by drought, floods and fires.
The Glenelg Freshwater Mussel is a critically endangered mussel species found only in the Glenelg River system of south-western Victoria. The species is culturally significant for the region’s Gunditjmara Traditional Owners and is at risk from genetic in-breeding, habitat degradation and extreme events like fire and drought.
These freshwater creatures are prioritised under the Government’s Threatened Species Action Plan.
The $1.2 million investment will support captive breeding programs, the development of emergency response plans, woody weed control, revegetation along riverbanks, and opportunities to create trout-free refuges for these species. These projects will also benefit other threatened species that share the same habitat.
Of this investment, $210,000 has been injected into the Snobs Creek Conservation Hatchery in Eildon, Victoria, which opens its doors to visitors today.
This state-of-the-art facility will help secure the future of Victoria’s native fish for generations to come. It has taken important and proactive steps to recover threatened freshwater species, including the Glenelg Freshwater Mussel, through captive breeding and translocations.
This facility also received funding as part of the Government’s bushfire recovery programs following the Black Summer bushfires.
Read more:
Bushfire recovery for wildlife and their habitat
Quotes attributable to the Minister for the Environment and Water, the Hon Tanya Plibersek:
“I am committed to achieving our target of zero new extinctions in Australia. This funding is about delivering on that commitment, protecting our precious native species, and repairing the places they call home.
“It’s a key part of our $500 million investment to better protect and recover our threatened species, including by cracking down on feral animals and weeds that are killing our native creatures.”